For the third summer, Camp Mesorah is proud to be the only Orthodox overnight camp to offer a unique and internationally successful leadership mountain biking program called GEERZ. The program, imported from Israel, provides both boys and girls with an all-inclusive mountain biking workshop. GEERZ was founded in Israel by Rabbi Nachum Wasosky who was a guest at Mesorah for a week this summer. He designed a curriculum to teach and strengthen leadership skills in its participants and train them to become the next generation of leaders. The curriculum is customized for all ages and skill levels. GEERZ builds confidence among its bikers and utilizes the natural skills of mountain biking to strengthen them mentally, physically and spiritually.

Donny Fein, a GEERZ board member and Camp Mesorah’s director of mountain biking is thrilled to bring this program back to the camp this summer. As a result of its success, GEERZ has been expanded to include more trails and more riders. The camp’s expansive 600-acre property is the perfect place for mounting biking trails.

Camp Mesorah has not only invested in high-end mountain bikes in a variety of sizes, but also ensures safe riding with water cages and helmets for each camper. Hundreds of happy campers have benefited from GEERZ at Camp Mesorah as well as dozens of staff members—and their spouses who come up for the weekend begging to catch a mountain biking ride.

By P’nina Seplowitz